It was clear we were off to the races Monday night at the monthly Halifax County Board of Supervisors meeting when a local farmer rose from his seat to argue that Halifax County needs Agricultural and Forestal Districts more than ever because things are so bad for producers right now.

The mind reels at the cruelty and malice behind the murder of Nancy Alford and vicious assault of John Alford, pastor of Sanford Memorial Baptist Church in Brodnax, who remains hospitalized after two intruders broke into the couple’s Lake Gaston home on Friday night and inflicted unfathomable violence.